Moog Mavis Synthesizer - Sonic LAB Review

A new instrument from Moog is always a bit of an event and the most KZbinrs hit the deadline - but not us :-)
Mavis is a single oscillator subtractive Moog voice with a the classic 24dB ladder filter and a semi modular layout. (patchbay on the left).
They said it is a DIY kit, but its more of a self-assembly - in that its a piece of cake to put together. its also possible to mount it in Eurorack but you'll need to find a 10 pin header cables. (not supplied)
The addition of a wave folder takes this into somewhat new territory for Moog and provides some more East Coast style complex waveforms. You also get to use the LFO as a 2nd VCO if you wish, though it doesn't track over the same range as the VCO its still handy.
Patch bay adds plenty of stuff to tinker with as well as a S&H circuit, two channel mixer, attenuator and mult. Priced at 329UK
www.moogmusic.com/products/mavis
#soniclab
#moog #mavis
Exclusive extra content on Patreon
/ sonicstate
00:00 intro and build
03:22 VCO and LFO
07:50 Wave folder
10:50 Filter
15:55 Patch examples
23:44 conclusion
Frozen Reverbs Racks for Live: bit.ly/freezemachines
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[@kgbinfo]

I love Nick’s face when he’s playing that PWM bass patch. That is the face of someone who loves synthesizers.

[@Death_By_Media]

No longer stank face it is known as PWM batt face

[@jonnyhead]

Right? That's a passion right there.

[@tmccormick892]

He might just love PWM for all we know. Guess we need to find a light particle that does it to find out

[@distant_days_9749]

you could basically cut down this whole review to that clip and it would have the same effect

[@TheInterGalacticFederation]

PWM Face - see Synth Memes! for more info... great demo Nick - now i'm waiting on delivery...

[@DivKid]

Thanks for the little shout out for my video and examples Nick, much appreciated and always a pleasure to watch what you find in synths too.

[@loopop]

Thanks very much for the shout-out and lovely patch examples & jams!

[@diderichlangmannen]

So it is! Give this man a box with screws and after a few minutes a bunch of excellent harmonies fills the air. How happy we are to have this guy just in front of us. Thanks a lot, Master.

[@Ian-gw2vx]

You really have a talent for making synths sing beautifully with your musical demos.

[@gavinthomas214]

I can't believe how lost I am in the sounds from Mavis. They seem to resonate on such a deep level. Lovely video.

[@meneerjansen00]

After all the synth-fair video's finally another review. Throw in a few 'Friday Fun' and '5 minutes with' video's and we've got our favourite *synth* channel back.

[@StudioMModern]

Awesome sounds 🔥🔥🔥 thank you Nick for showing us the sound capabilities of this synth. It was worth waiting a bit until you reviewed it 🙂

[@aquaticborealis4877]

Another raw, beautiful patch exploration from Nick. Never disappointed.

[@MrDschiesus]

and some lovely tones and melodies as usual.

[@devmiles]

5:20 Epic PWM face!

[@lennartrauhe7194]

Amazing what Nick can get out of such a minimalistic box!

[@1chipchap]

I love these reviews but il be honest I come for your music . Lovely stuff

[@jasonakagecko]

Awesome video!! That last sequence you made sounds almost identical to my Sequential Circuits Pro-One.💪🏻😎👍🏻

[@dankeplace]

This is a great little synth, I love the playout tune, it made me want on as I saw the CDR 70 making an appreanace again. The Mavis just looks like a super cool synth to noodle with, and it has oodles of character too.

[@JuanAMatos-zx4ub]

Nick always nails the playout music. He manages to capture the magic of each synth he reviews.

[@inthefade]

I've been resisting the Moog sound for my 20+ year synth journey, but suddenly this makes me want one, just to have that option for my tracks... Especially that buttery bass.

[@TheDazlermac]

Great review Nick.

[@alexwest909]

was waiting for this. thx Nick.

[@CommunityGuidelines]

Sounds really nice!

[@klaatu-barada-nikto]

Sonic State reviews of analog synths are the only ones which take care of not piercing listeners ear drums. GJ!

[@macronencer]

FYI, there's a blank patch template PDF on the Mavis download page.

[@ianmorton1799]

I loved the little bit of music for airports at 19:15 or so!

[@Fsng837]

Nick please, every time the same. I see a demo and I'm like ah, it looks okay. Then I hear your patch examples and I'm in love.I think you could make the worst synth in the world sound like a prophet 5 haha.

[@delscoville]

Wave folder almost makes up for it only having one VCO. Has some really nice results.

[@guymorrison4800]

as your end of vid jam implies a bit of a winner

[@stlflyguy]

Want to see this incorporated in a “Friday Fun” episode.

[@regplasma7906]

Mavis was impressed with Nic's change of clothing.

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

Dear Nick, tell us already please well, when will Korg Drumlogue and Wavestate Se appear, at least some information? Thank you. Nothing serious has come out of hardware synths so far!

[@danielegasmaffei]

Hello,thank you for your tutorials, please can you help me ? I have a simple master key Swing Behringer but i don't know how connect the master key to Mavis, i try to connect to gate to gate but play only one note...

[@lorenmax9460]

It sounds great (with a great synthesist playing it)--and great points: you can buy a Moog semi modular for $700 (cost of two Mavis', with real knobs, etc.), and as a gateway drug for Eurocrack, I''d say stay away--it IS addictive. I would recommend saving for a Sequential or Oberheim after a foray in modular diy...

[@robjoyner1167]

The only two people I trust with gear reviews: Nick and Stimming. The rest are just youtubers looking for free gear.

[@Matt-Horizon]

Wow, not even loopop?

[@robjoyner1167]

@@Matt-Horizon he rarely points out truly downsides to the gear he's talking about. Only minor stuff.

[@robjoyner1167]

@Synth&CoffeeGuy I'll check em out!

[@macronencer]

The modular "slippery slope" is a very real fear for me! I already had a Neutron when I got my Mavis, and so I can make them talk to each other (especially as the patch panels are on different sides!). I haven't done much of that yet, but I'm sure it will be very interesting... I love the tone you got around 20:00 by the way. That wave folder is worth having.

[@n0tett]

If you don't get into eurorack, then you probably won't hit that slope, but you also won't have as much fun... all depends on whether or not you are trying to be efficient in making music.

[@macronencer]

@@n0tett I think I know what you mean. Eurorack means getting a case with a power supply, and at that point you've made a commitment so you tend to want to buy more modules and fill it up :) I'm not ruling it out and having a Eurorack system would be mindblowing, but I currently have other budget priorities.

[@deldridg]

@@macronencer We all have budget priorities but every now and then (actually, quite often in my case), they become a little malleable when certain emotions are tweaked. Moog seems to know just how to tweak! For example - I'm currently renovating (huge budget priority) but find myself sliding closer and closer to the edge of the Moog/Eurorack abyss... The house doesn't really need a new roof and cladding, does it? 🙂 Cheers - Dave

[@macronencer]

@@deldridg I can definitely relate to that! I rent, so I don't have that particular budget sink... but of course I have others. I have a son at university, for example. At the moment, I'm looking at selling some gear to buy some of the software I need. But I won't be selling my Mavis (or my Neutron) any time soon. I'm too fascinated by the modular thing :) Good luck with your house!

[@deldridg]

@@macronencer Kids are expensive aren't they... mine are 10 and 12 so you're ahead of me there. Awesome - you have a Mavis and a Neutron. I'm considering something along those lines myself. In the meantime I've been trying to build some sound design knowledge with courses on Groove3 (their all access pass is now $99) using VST synths - Synthmaster and one or two others in Cubase. I can imagine I would soon disappear into this wonderful world if I could afford the sorts of things I desire - Moog One would be nice! 🙂Good luck with it all and I wish your son well at uni. Cheers from Sydney, Dave

[@shpongled587]

That last patch was quite psychedelic.🍄

[@dernuniverse9813]

Damm Moog is the god of sub Fuck wish vst plug-in can one day sound thick like a Moog

[@Healectro]

very nice examples nick :) 8

[@PWMaarten]

That ‘keyboard’ is a real waste of real estate IMO.

[@KNHSynths]

Not really if you consider the patch bay that needs to expand below the "synth section". So instead of a blank space they had the good idea to put a little keyboard with a scale knob allowing to play drum sounds for example, or transposing a sequence or a lot of other purposes. Instead of a blank space. That's a nice addition. Instead of nothing.

[@annother3350]

Why didnt they put a scaling screw thingy on the LFO like they did the VCO for accurate pitch?!

[@ogasi1798]

same reason they didn't include a standard euro cable that cost about 1.50....because they are cheap bas7ards

[@Connor_Sherlock]

would have prefered a sq-1 style sequencer instead of the keyboard. sounds great though!

[@sebbosebbo9794]

synthetic lover....nice....

[@marekveleba]

24:30 - yes, it was a joke. And I was laughing until I looked next to me on my modular case in relation to my bank account. Anyway, nice review as always Nick! :-)

[@zumazmusic]

Enjoyed the video and this synth, however, the tuning seemed to have drifted quite substantially. I attempted to play along to the lovely sequence near the end, the one in Ab. No dice! You tuned it nicely, then something happened. The heat?

[@PedroMiguel-if3ll]

Cheap components

[@jediprestes]

Muito bom!!

[@chrisdooks5903]

Does anyone know what reverb box he is using?

[@LaurentDiscShowMan]

Muy bien very good...

[@paulwhiting1731]

Sounds great. But I want MIDI connectivity. Not interested in Eurorack, so I guess not for me.

[@edgargomenza7606]

Que lindo viaje y ese es Nick mas alla del sinte que este mostrando

[@streamtracker]

Does anyone know if the oscillator and filter in the Mavis are the same as in the Werkstadt?

[@robthebloke]

The mavis is an improvement imho (don’t have a werkstadt, but do have the mavis and mother). Where as the werkstadt and mother use switches to choose waveshape & modulation source and destination (for vco and vcf), the mavis is blendable all the way through (so you can modulate via a mix of eg and lfo, and have attenuators to control the modulation amounts applied to pitch, pwm, and cutoff separately. You get a much larger range of tones from the vco and vcf on the mavis compared to the mother. The sample and hold, attenuators/mixer, and mult are a very welcome set of Utils that would add a lot to the mother (and even grandmother). However, on the downside, the wave folder, vcf, and vca are hard wired together. So you can’t use the mavis to extend a mother/grandmother/matriarch with a wave folder, second vca, or filter (abused as a slew limiter for example). The lack of a noise source is a minor irritant, but whatever. I kinda wish they’d have added an additional row of inputs / outputs (or simply ditch the keybed for more jack sockets) to allow you to split out the folder/vcf/vca (and a modulation input for the fold amount!). Those additions would have made it perfect :( I will however say that I really like it. Sonically it sounds great, and the modulation possibilities are far better than the mother. The utils are more useful than the mother (and even grandmother). It’s just a shame you can’t change the folder->vcf->vca routing. (I always prefer vcf->folder->vca, which you can’t do here).

[@ZenMountain]

So are they the same oscillator and filter or not???

[@sketchdashaman]

almost end of video....best...SHT!!!!!!😯

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

Maybe I am too old or behind the times, but I cringe when I see people handling circuit boards without a grounding strap for static electricity. Did we solve this problem in recent years? I have been repairing computers since the 1980's when we installed a main frame in our printing shop, and have always used grounding straps or worked with one hand while my other hand was grounded to a power supply case. I am not an educated computer expert, we simply could not afford to bring technicians into our shop to repair computers, so I was forced financially to become a repairman. Also I never touched the components of a board because I didn't want the oils of my fingers on components and would use gloves when installing new components.

[@jansonrawlings8169]

Boring instrument. Great demo though! Love you Nick

[@xperimentador]

So frustrated Moog does not include a power button in their semi modular synths. Any clue why that is?

[@ZenMountain]

It's something called MONEY.

[@xperimentador]

@@ZenMountain nonsense

[@PedroMiguel-if3ll]

For the price, Moog should just put together themselves.

[@taciterudite9224]

Have you seen the way they treat their assembly line? They don’t care.

[@n0tett]

@@taciterudite9224 where does one go to see how people are treated on the Moog assembly line?

[@deanbr6ndo70]

Moog mavis.hhmmmmn .sounds like willow the wisp to me.

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

What does this give you that the Werkstatt doesn’t ??

[@johnathantyrer6077]

Can I ask if this gadget makes lazer gun sounds and if that's true does the reviewer run around his 'synth room' pretending to be a jedi night?

[@bigmanlizard7326]

sounds lovely, just hard to justify buying it with things like a dreadbox typhon for the same money..

[@lstlvls2521]

The raw sound is a bit beefier than the Typhon which sounds a bit thin underneath all the effects... That said the Typhon offers a lot more for the money and would also be my choice out of the two.

[@inthefade]

True. If I had to choose I would probably go with the Typhon. Patch memory is also a big selling point for live performances for me too.

[@claytonlevibrown]

hearing some weird doubled voices in the background when you said "we can" you said that a bunch, this synthesizer is not good, is it?

[@makeitgrand]

How is this man not on holliday each day of the year, doing this?

[@deydododontdedoh.5672]

Looks like a werkstatt with pads, much difference between the two?

[@ianmorton1799]

Wave folding is the main one. Might be some slight difference elsewhere, but as far as I can recall from the werkstatt, that's it. Maybe duophonic patching?

[@rabbitnoize]

So glide doesn’t work with an external keyboard

[@jrengmusic]

5:19 That’s the PWM expression

[@SR-ih1be]

I love mine. Those saying the price is too high can't hear tone. This thing is nuts. It's also fun to see how many morons don't understand why this is a great product line. The Mavis is meant to be paired up with the Mother 32, DFAM, Subharmonicon, and Grandmother/Matriarch. Nothing on the market rivals what all of these wonderful boxes can produce when they are wired together.

[@teebeedahbow]

02:42 quality 'bit of PWM' moment.

[@jonnyhead]

320 squid for that? Ok it's getting silly now, that's probably 20 max for production. Something beginning with B 😄

[@ikarugamoo]

Borg? Bodal? Bovation? Ahhhh, i see what you did there. B-uli.

[@KNHSynths]

I love most of "B" synths and I have a few ones, even the Model D. But at this time, they never released something that sounds as good as this little Moog Mavis. We will see what they can do with poly synths (if they release them before we will be all dead). But currently no "B" synth sounds as good as this little Mavis.

[@guymorrison4800]

bit like minibrute 2?

[@tafonyreynolds]

is that a 1010 tangerine on the rack???

[@sonicstate]

Nah, way before the release!

[@user-ne7is2sp7d]

Volca Moog Prodigy

[@pccanelos]

"screw the knurlly bits on..........." :D

[@theleastsignificantbit4794]

This is a great review because Nick demonstrates some creative patching. The synth sounds good; my only complaints are the tiny knobs (a product of the price point) and the name (yes, that’s shallow). With a name like “Mavis,” I expect this synth to arrive with a jar (not a bottle) of North Carolina’s finest corn likker.

[@raffitchakmakjian]

oh look, another traditional subtractive synth, 1 of a kajillion others out there just like it. Moog Mehvis.

[@snoolee7950]

ha good pun

[@amphitheatre]

22:22 mighty

[@deydododontdedoh.5672]

Can't weait for the Moog Karen, believe its a screamer! 😂

[@ZenMountain]

Thank you, for your intelligent contribution.

[@deydododontdedoh.5672]

@@ZenMountain think that's intelligent, should see my stupid ones! 😎

[@Shasha_Mynx]

Lots of good (negative) points in the comments about moog living off past success/flimsiness. That said, I like mine. Makes a good foil for a polybrute, and I keep it on my main desk. Me and my studio mate are very comfortable playing moog filters and I wanted something easily within reach we could fiddle with. The keyboard is great for setting intervals when playing with other modular gear, too.

[@kw7865]

I would have preferred if they had just done a proper west coast inspired synth in the M32 / DFAM / SUBH format... That would at least be more interesting. At that price I think a East Beast or West Pest are better options

[@dankeplace]

They're entirely different synths, Moog does cost more but the sound character is pretty well renowned. M32s cost too much, using this would have made a simple approach add to the price for nothing. Moog has given people the ability for that sound, without that extra of the range you're talking about.

[@xTheOxx]

Is it just me or does it not sound very good? Just basic, I guess. I know you get what you pay for, but I heard better sounds coming out of the cheaper cre8audio Beast and Pest, and for a little bit more you get the Typhon.

[@n0tett]

No, you're right, the people falling for this trick are delusional. "it's a Moog!".

[@nostandingonlydancin]

😃

[@PorchBass]

Lol Nick does not own any eurorack power cables. Big modular fan.

[@kosmikmusa]

Sounds like Orbital.

[@303machine]

5:20 PWM face.

[@grumpycomposer5658]

It sounds good…but it looks so fiddly and demanding…there seems to be a lot of barriers in the way of simply writing music…it seems to be designed for learning rather than making music. 🤔

[@nickademuss42]

its no joke, the slippery slope of modular.... thousands in one tiny case.... so much fun but more exspensive than heroin....and its never complete.

[@PedroMiguel-if3ll]

Moog toy

[@KNHSynths]

A Moog Toy is worth flagship....

[@achmedabadoba5478]

Get a Korg Modular. It's less then half the price and it comes as one piece

[@SR-ih1be]

and isn't modular

[@achmedabadoba5478]

Volca Modular is also not modular. It is semi modular and has the very same functionality as this overpriced moog mavis

[@SR-ih1be]

@@achmedabadoba5478 as someone who owns both, I can safely say the Moog sounds far better. It's only overpriced if you are a whiny bitch who can't afford nice things and can't tell the difference between a Moog and a volca. The Korg is only modular to itself, whereas the Moog is actually modular to other Moogs + other modular boxes. The Korg is insanely fun, but IMO still sounds like a toy. The Mavis is a proper analog synth and sounds like one. They are incomparable with regard to features.

[@achmedabadoba5478]

@@SR-ih1be You talking like an expert here i see... I hope I must not explain to you the definition of a modular synth and a semi-modular one. I suggest you read that Wikipedia history again on your overpriced moog. I wasn't even talking about modularity in the first place... it is literally the name of the device 'Korg Volca Modular' I was citing, douche.

[@SandcastleTheory]

The lack of fine-tune is a silly handicap. What good is a synth that can't be properly tuned?

[@6581punk]

Trading on their name. Had anyone else released this it wouldn't get any attention.

[@KNHSynths]

But "anyone" can't produce a Moog that sounds like a Moog ! Since many decades a lot of makers tried to do it but they all failed to copy the Moog sound.... So, it's up to you to prefer bad copies.

[@n0tett]

@@KNHSynths is that why the Moog One sounds like it does?

[@KNHSynths]

@@n0tett The Moog one sounds fantastic. The tuning problem is another story. But the sound is great.

[@KeirMurphy]

That case looks really flimsy for the price. You look at the metal case for the Shruthi XT and you realise this is where Moog are making most of the money.

[@6581punk]

Ah those were the days. I forget how many Shruthi's I built. Only built one Ambika though.

[@YHVH]

"Little plastic led tube thing" is called a light pipe FYI

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

The most underwhelming Moog release ever.

[@6581punk]

Well, you have to admit they have range. From producing gigantic polysynths to this, which TBH doesn't really say "Moog" to me.

[@folkfingers9645]

@J. C. IDK, I'd use M32, DFAM or Sub37 line over any Model D anytime, as much as I like the original. I guess there's no 1 product for everyone

[@soulSaysHi]

@J. C. Bob Moog designed the Voyager under Moog Music inc.

[@mclarensmps]

It's a replacement for the werkstatt. What exactly were you expecting?

[@n0tett]

but it's only $350!!!!!! Look at what you pay, and look at what you get, it's an absolute steal compared to everything else on the market.

[@andewprod]

Interesting but too pricy for what you get.

[@KNHSynths]

"What you get"? What you get is a Moog!, A small one, but with the Moog sound. No synth you can buy will sound this good, except another Moog! It's not the tons of gadgets that make a good synth, it's a mistake to think that. I really think you should listen more carefully to the demo and you will certainly reconsider your position.

[@andewprod]

@@KNHSynths for 500 bucks you can get a minibrute 2s, a monologue or any very decent monosynth (i wont even mention Behringer). For this price moog could assemble it for us but nope.. at least sth like the mother32 has proper knobs and sequencer. Does moog have a distinct sound? Sure. Is it worth spending double the money? For me at least not.

[@KNHSynths]

@@andewprod I've got all the synths you're speaking about and many others. They all are sh*t compare to Moog sound. When I play or record music nobody matters how much knobs are on my devices... What is important to me and to the listeners is the quality of the sound (and the composition of course but that's not the point here)? So you can have 10 Minibrute 2S you will never have the sound quality of a single Mavis. But all depend on your goal, making music with a beautiful sound or just having fun turning the knobs. Both are ok. Just a personal choice.

[@andewprod]

@@KNHSynths well i think thats an opinion thing. Every synth has its character and just saying that every synth besides moog sounds like shxt sounds kinda ignorant to me. I think some TB303 / SH101 / MS20 / Oberheim etc lovers would have to tell you something xd. F ex I have the behringer system100 collection and i die for the smoothness of the filter and the overall sound. Moog just sounds.. like moog and if you like it then go get it.

[@KNHSynths]

@@andewprod The question was not about other great synths like the System 100m or Prophet, the question was about the Mavis that is too expensive for what it is offering. And you spoke about Minibrute 2S and other cool synths that can't compete with the Moog sound. I repeat that the Mavis is perhaps overpriced compared to a Minibrute 2S and all its possibilities only if you compare synths on their number of knobs... If you're more interested by the quality and finesse of sound, even a Mavis is a true Moog with such a quality you will never had with one or ten Minibrute 2S. In this case the Mavis is not overprived. It's even a gift :Moog is offering the Moog sound to little wallets.

[@allisterwhitehead]

it's never the guitar, the synth, the drum kit. It's always the player playing it. Sound design is a thing.

[@ZenMountain]

Ok.

[@Maschinestorm]

werkstatt repackage

[@KNHSynths]

If you just see a Werkstatt when you look at a Mavis then you need to go as fast as possible to an optician and a good ENT! :-)

[@chump72]

Stop. Tapping. The. Box.

[@omarbonifacino3381]

Ci sono strumenti che fanno molto ma molto meglio.

[@raffitchakmakjian]

when you've heard your 10,000th sample & hold patch and 100,000th lfo to filter cutoff patch. :-|

[@isocarboxazid]

Sounds like you need a new hobby

[@raffitchakmakjian]

@@isocarboxazid interesting cope.

[@raffitchakmakjian]

Not knocking Nick, just the boring synth.

[@n0tett]

Don't fall for it.

[@frankvaleron]

Doesn't look high quality, aesthetically pleasing, or sound good. Just my opinion!

[@sullycliftona888]

Slipper re slope of chapters because we don't want to watch the whole thing

[@erroristic]

Looks flimsy and cheap. Sorry but Moog is not relevant anymore. Its just overpriced toys riding on a legacy of really good synths. And you have to assemble it yourself because its too expensive for them to ship them already assembled from china. Bob would be proud.

[@normdurkin6425]

it's Moog it's overpriced and boring with terrible QC..

[@ChrisP3000x]

Moog's naming of synths is about the worst in history.........As if they are intentionally decreasing sales. If they ever change, I'll go back to buying Moog.

[@VincentPresley]

Sounds pretty nice but that has got to be the most unattractive, and cheap looking Moog I've ever seen. You can do way better with that money. It also seems like they're sending these out as kits to avoid paying their employees who have been trying to get a more decent wage. This patch cable trend also seems really tired and most people I know have been ditching all of their modular gear. It's crazy to think that just a few years ago nearly every brand was making some of their most impressive synths and now we get little plastic boxes with little baby sized knobs from everyone.